Tunoa pleads not guilty to fatal beating

Alapeti Siuanu Tunoa Jr. pleaded not guilty in Circuit Court yesterday to a second-degree murder charge stemming from the Jan. 16 beating death of his ex-girlfriend on a public street in Kailua.

Tunoa, 30, is awaiting trial on a charge that he beat to death ex-girlfriend Janel Tupuola with a shotgun. He also faces firearm and criminal property damage charges and an assault charge for allegedly injuring a man who tried to intervene during the beating.

Circuit Judge Derrick Chan scheduled Tunoa's trial for March 31. Tunoa remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail.